Where can I get pots that ...

[Alard]

The "lack of apparent sweep in pots" is usually due to use of a linear taper potentiometer in an audio application.
Lack of apparent sweep may also indicate use of a 'reverse' taper logarithmic pot when 'standard' taper is required.

Don't make me explain it, it's too early in the day.
Human perception of audio volume is logarithmic.
Therefore:
Rule of thumb. Most Volume and Tone controls should be standard logarithmic taper potentiometers.
These convert linear electronic functions to logarithmic human functions, i.e. human hearing.
Log pots often have an "A" after the printed value - 100K A

Solution:
If it isn't working with a linear, try a log.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by walterw

It's all about the signal path; with guitar and its typical overdriven, compressed amp tone, audio taper volume pots work evenly to control the amp overdrive.

With bass and its typically clean sound, audio volumes act just like the OP is complaining about: little volume for most of the turn, then jumping up loud at the top.

The effect is exaggerated with higher-resistance pots like the OP has.

This is worth a search, the topic has been thoroughly discussed. Try "linear taper" for a ton of threads.

I've seen them and still disagree with it, hell, it's personal preference (though I'd still suggest the OP tries linear to see if it works for him).


Alard, I wouldn't use an audio taper for a tone pot. You also need to be careful, depending on the manufacturer, some pots have "A" as linear and "B" as log.

[bassdude51]

Man! I'm always so impressed with the knowledge of some of you Talk Bass techs and I learn some wonderful things! I've really enjoyed reading this tread and posts about different kinds of tapers on pots!

I've nothing to add but I've always felt that passive Jazz Basses should be wired with one volume, blend and tone!

Trying to blend down either neck or bridge pickup on a Jazz Bass with standared VVT is ridiculous! About 2 or 3 millimeters of turning between on and off for blending!

[BFunk]

Unfortunately, a blend control does not work well for a passive instrument. Switches are where it is at, especially for live work.

[precijazz]

Originally Posted by BFunk

Unfortunately, a blend control does not work well for a passive instrument. Switches are where it is at, especially for live work.

There might be some truth in this regarding passive P/J basses (at least I read some plausible explanations for that here on TB), but I seriously doubt this as a general statement. The blend control on my passive Jazz clone works perfectly well. For live work, too. I don't think mine is the only one.

[BFunk]

That's surprising.

[walterw]

Again, the volume dropping too fast off of "10" means you have an audio volume, not a linear.

And again, a tone that does nothing until it's almost at "0" where it goes dark like a switch is a linear tone, not an audio.

This is pretty straightforward stuff, i don't know why there's such pushback about it.

Also, blends can work OK passive, as long as you do a few tricks, not the least of which is using the right M/N pot.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Hey, works for me.

Using audio pots for volumes work for most as well seeing that's what most basses use and generally don't see people complaining about poor sweep there.

*dun-dun-dun* It's the internet, I and my personal experience disagree with you, no matter how many italicised words you use, that isn't going to change. I also wouldn't say pushback, more that practicaly everywhere else holds an opinion different to your own.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

OP, try changing the pot taper types around and seeing which you prefer.

End of the day, that's what matters. As you can see from this thread alone, people have different preferences (the issue is some try to label one personal preference as "right" in a typical step of internet oneupsmanship).

[tlr1293]

Simple...
I've switched all 6 of my passive basses to Linear volume/Linear volume/Audio Tone.
Volumes and tone are all smooth transitioning where before I could go from 10 down to 7 and bam! big drop, and then mostly the same from that point downward until Off at 0.

I am not a fan of the Audio tapers i first put in for volume, but the linear allows me to set things just the way I want.

[walterw]

There you go!

I'm not being dogmatic about what people "should" use, but the pots in question do what they do, there's no arguing about that.

Whether people like the way they work or not is obviously up to them.

(I will say that a little searching will bring up years and years of complaints about volume pots that jump from "8" to "10", which is what audio volumes do. I have never seen one thread about volumes that don't drop off fast enough from "10", which is how linear volumes behave.)